Apparatus for cleaning heat exchangers and the like



April, 1938. R. M. HUSBAND 2,112,896

' APPARATUS FOR lCLEANING HEAT EXCHANGERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 25,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arma/@Xs April 5, 1938.

R. M. HUSBAND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HEAT4 EXCHANGERS AND THE LIKE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1935 /A/l/fA//fofl Eder/M A/wma/ PatentedApr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR. CLEANING HEAT EX- ACHANGERS'ANDI THE LIKE Robert M. Husband, Bala-Cynwyd, Pa., assigner to WilliamSellers & Company, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsyl- Vania Application May y.23, 1935, .Serial No. 22,950

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for cleaning heatexchangers and will be found more particularly advantageous for use incleaning the tubular elements of heat ex- 5 changers used in connectionwith the refining of petroleum.

As is well known, heat exchangers used in connection with the refiningof petroleum, and especially the tube bundles thereof, become fouledwith a heavy deposit which reduces their eiliciency and as aconsequencemust be removed by some cleaning procedure. The fouling or deposit is inthe nature of a tar or asphalt oil, coke, mud, scale, etc. and presentssuch difficulty in its removal that cleaning methods heretofore known,such as scraping, blowing with steam, dipping in a solvent,` etc., havevbeen recognized as ineicient and uneconomical.

Now in accordance with this invention there is provided an apparatuswhereby heat interchangers, and more particularly the tube bundlesthereof, may be efficiently cleaned in a minimum of time and at a greatsaving over the cost incident to the use of prior methods.

The apparatus in accordance with this invention will be designed for thedirection of a high temperature, high pressure, llat stream of Water onstraightlines between .the rows of tubes comprising the tube bundle of aheat exchanger. More particularly, the stream will have a pressurewithin about the range G-500 lbs. per square inchand more desirablywithin the narrower range 200-400 lbs. per square inch. The stream Willdesirably have a temperature Within about the range 1GO-190 F., or morespecifically a temperature of about 175 F., and the stream will have avelocity of 90-200 ft. per second.

The apparatus embodying this invention will comprise essentially meansfor the development of the requisite temperature and pressure and anozzle provided with an aperture or series of apertures capable ofdelivering a relatively thin, flat stream and with which will desirablybe associated a guide arranged for the direction of the 4.5 streambetween rows of the tubes.

Having now indicated in a general way the nature and purpose of thisinvention, I will proceed to a detailed description thereof withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly broken away showing aform of apparatus in ac corda-nce with this invention.

Figure 2 is a View on line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the form of apparatus.

Figure 4 is a sectional .view showing a detail of the apparatus shown inFigure 3.

In the drawings, referring to the several figures, the tube bundle isprovided with a pluralityof banks of tubes I, the banks being spacedfrom one another. A guide 2 is supported at its ends from the tubebundle by means of brackets 3 secured to the tube sheets of the bundle,as by plugs I6 .driven into two or more tubes. 'Ihe guide 2 ispositioned outside of the bundle and extends longitudinally thereof andparallel to the tubes I adjacent to the space between a pair of thebanks of tubes. Desi-rably, the guide 2 is supported intermediate its`endsby means of a `bracket comprising a member `Il, embracing the guide2 and bolted to a member 5 adapted to be engaged between adjacent rowsof tubes of adjacent banks, as shown` in Figure .4. The member 5, asshown, .comprises a straight edge and a serrated edge and is soproportioned that it may be inserted between banks of tubes and thentwisted to engage its straight edge against a row of tubes in onebankandto engage its serrated edge with the other bank, the serrationsprojecting between tubes and acting to prevent its withdrawal. Inassembling the bracket, the member 5 is rst positioned `between thebanks of tubes and then secured ,tothe member 4. f

A carriage 6 provided with a saddle 1 is adapted to ride on the guide 2.The carriage is provided with a pair of handles 8, 8 whereby thecarriage may be readily moved longitudinally of the guide 2. Extendingtransversely of the carriage is a nozzle guide 9 through which projectsa nozzle III adapted for connection with a source of hot water underhigh pressure. The nozzle I0 is of greater width than height and isadapted for insertion between the banks of tubes, as shown in Figure 1.Adjacent the forward end of the nozzle narrow openings II, or rows ofholes, the walls of which extend at an angle corresponding to that ofthe alignment of the tubes I, for example, are provided for the deliveryof opposite streams from the nozzle. The body of the nozzle is providedwith a series of notches I2, in diametrically opposite edges adapted tobe engaged by a double spring catch I3 mounted on the carriage and thearms of which extend through notches I4 in the I wall of the nozzleguide with which the notches I2 in edges of the nozzle may be broughtinto alignment. The notches I 2 inthe nozzle are spaced a distance equalto the distance between centers of the tubes, and those in one edge arestaggered with respect to those in the opposite edge, so as to eiect'alignment of the openings II 2 in the nozzle and streams issuingtherefrom with the spaces between the rows of tubes I in adjacent banks,as shown in Figure l.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1-4, the bundlehaving been withdrawn from its shell the guide 2 is secured in placewith respect to the space between two banks of tubes and the carriagecarrying the nozzle mounted thereon. The nozzle is suitably connectedwith a source of hot Water under pressure and is inserted between a pairof banks of tubes to a point such that the streams issuing therefromwill pass upwardly and downwardly between, for example, the rst rows oftubes. In such position the nozzle is xed by engagement of the springcatch I3 in a pair of the notches I2. The carriage is then movedlongitudinally on the guide 2 causing the stream to move longitudinallyof the tubes upon which they are acting. The nozzle is then movedinwardly a distance of one of the notches I2, which will position it fordelivery of streams between the next row of tubes and the carriage againmoved longitudinally on the guide 2. The inward adjustment andlongitudinal movement is repeated until all the tubes have beensubjected to the streams, then the nozzle is withdrawn from the nozzleguide, turned over and reinserted in the nozzle guide 9 and the processrepeated with the result that the tubes will be subjected to the streamsprojected in different directions to the end that they will bethoroughly cleaned. Where an intermediate support for the guide 2, asshown, is provided, it will interfere with the longitudinal movement of`the carriage and nozzle. However, the tubes may be cleaned in sectionslongitudinally and the nozzle and carriage passed by the support byremoval from and replacement onthe guide.

As will be appreciated, various modifications yin detail over thatinvolved in the above specific bundle, a guide positioned adjacent tothe bundle and extending longitudinally thereof, a carriage mounted onsaid guide, a nozzle adjustably mounted on said carriage and means forvthe supply of heated fluid to said nozzle.

2. Apparatus for cleaning tube bundles of heat exchangers comprising, incombination, a tube bundle, a guide positioned adjacent to the bundleand extending longitudinally thereof, a carriage mounted forlongitudinal movement on said guide, a nozzle mounted on said carriageand arranged for adjustment with respect thereto in a direction at rightangles to that of its movement on said guide and means for the supply ofheated fluid to said nozzle.

3. Apparatus for cleaning tube bundles of heat exchangers comprising, incombination, a tube bundle including a pair of spaced banks of tubes. aguide extending longitudinally of said bundle, a carriage mounted onsaidguide, a nozzle provided with a discharge opening adjacent its endadjustably mounted on said carriage and adapted to extend betweensaid'banks of tubes and means for the supply of heated uid to saidnozzle.

4. Apparatus for cleaning tube bundles of heat exchangersv comprising,in combination, a tube bundle including a pair of spaced banks of tubes,a guide extending longitudinally of said bundle, a carriage mounted onsaid guide, a nozzle provided `with a discharge opening adjacent its endadjustably mounted on said carriage and adapted to extend between saidbanks of tubes, means on said carriage adapted to cooperate with saidnozzle and fix it in adjusted position.

5. Apparatus for cleaning tube bundles of heat exchangers comprising, incombination, a tube bundle including a pair of spaced banks of tubes, aguide extending longitudinally of said bundle, a carriage mounted onsaid guide, a nozzle provided with a discharge opening adjacent its endand having notches in its body portion adjustably mounted on saidcarriage and adapted to extend between said banks of tubes, means onsaid carriage adapted to cooperate with notches in the body portion ofsaid nozzle and x it in adjusted position.

ROBERT M. HUSBAND.

